Fwd: [focusorissa] Murdering tribals in Narayanpatna: A challenge for the Human Rights Defenders

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: achyutdas <achyutdas@agragamee.org>
Date: Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Subject: [focusorissa] Murdering tribals in Narayanpatna: A challenge for the Human Rights Defenders
To: focusorissa@gmail.com, focusorissa@yahoogroups.com

 

Dear Friends,

Like many of you, I have been going through all the Reports and Press
Statements of various Fact Finding Missions. One thing that has come out
clearly is that it is a cold-blooded murder of the tribals. It seems apart
from the two who were killed by the police on the spot, three more have died
of bullet injuries. More may die soon.

A few questions that are coming up need answers. They are as follows:

1.. Is the Police Version published in the Media true? Were the tribals
planning to attack the Narayanpatna Police Station? Has there been any real
Gun-snatching? Has there been any administrative inquiry? What is the Post
Mortem Report indicating?
2.. Was the firing avoidable? Why didn't police fire in the air to scare
away the mob? Why so many rounds of firing? Has there been any conspiracy to
kill the tribal leaders like Singanna?
3.. Is the Report published by Media manipulated? How far is the media
report INDEPENDENT AND UNBIASED?
4.. Why isn't this Police Firing creating a storm in the state? This is
in comparison to the Police Firing at Maikanch and Kalinganagar?
5.. Why are the mainstream political parties silent?
6.. Who is behind this killing? The local moneylenders and liquor brewers?
The local Mining companies? The local Politicians? The police bosses? How
much money has been raised to execute this killing?
7.. Why is the protest by Human Rights Organisations so feeble?
I remember very much the case of Police Firing at Maikanch, Kashipur on Dec
16, 2000 in which the Police, the Politicians and the Media were blaming
everything on the tribals and Agragamee and how much pressure was on the
Navin Patnaik Govt. to arrest me as the main instigator. As it was evident,
in the Justice PK Mishra Commission Report, the firing was avoidable. More
to it, there were evidence that the then Collector and SP had got telephonic
instruction from one Cabinet Minister to go for the Police Firing. The local
doctor who had conducted the Post Mortem had confessed that one Police
Inspector had requested him to make a thin cut in his neck and then stitched
up to create an impression that he had been injured by the tribal arrows.
Under pressure the local doctor has conducted such a false operation and
the Inspector was with the bandage to show to the public that he was truly
injured! It was also stated by the then the Norwegian CEO of Utkal Alumina
that he knew who were behind this killing but later on backtracked from his
statement.This corporate must have spent huge money to organise this
killing. If you remember, there was so much protest in Norway on this
killing and involvement of Utkal Alumina that the Norwegian Partner Norsk
Hydro was forced to withdraw.

There were so much outcry over Maikanch Police Firing that the Chief
Minister Mr. Navin Patnaik was forced to institute a commission of inquiry.
It was initially to be conducted by a senior official of the Government who
was found to be a sympathiser of the Mining Companies and was instrumental
in banning Agragamee. When the Chief Minister came to know about this, the
Govt. had appointed Justice PK Mishra to undertake the Commission of
Inquiry. Even though the Commission of Inquiry Report had indicted the
police and especially the OIC of Kashipur, this officer was allowed to
continue for more than 3 years even after the firing and the report was
published. Those who were responsible for police firing got their promotion.
The ultimate result is that people of Kashipur were traumatised by the
firing. Hunderds of people were booked ion false cases and many of them were
in jail. All these harassments led to reopening of Utkal Alumina. From all
these one can imagine what was the real intention of Maikanch Police Firing!

Nevertheless, now the Chief Minister should have the basic respect for the
lives of the innocent citizens and should take steps to institute a
commission of inquiry. All Human Rights Defenders must admits that there has
been a severe violation of fundamental rights of the tribals and a process
should begin to go to the heart of the matter and demand justice.Let the
mobilisation begin!

With best wishes,

Achyut Das

------------------------------------
Achyut Das
Director
Agragamee
Kashipur -765015
Rayagada Orissa
India
Phone: 06865 285149/0674 2551123
Fax: 0674 2551130
e-mail: achyutdas@agragamee.org/agragamee@satyam.net.in
Blog: http://friendsofkashipur.blogspot.com
website:www.agragamee.org

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Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: [OREGS Watch] Narayanpatna firings

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Vidhya <awsdc@sify.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Subject: [OREGS Watch] Narayanpatna firings
To: kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com, oregs-watch@googlegroups.com,
jivika@yahoogroups.com

Dear Friends,

The situation in the tribal regions is really disturbign to put it
mildly, and there seems to be the least interest on the part of the
government to address the problems on the ground, as it affects the
poorest and most marginalised communities.

From the Koraput sub-collector's response to the fact finding report
of Sharanya & Team we are forced to conclude the following:
a. That the police fired 58 rounds on a crowd of tribal people;
b. They did this without the presence of a magistrate;
c. They did not give sufficient warning to the people that firing
would take place;
d. They did not use any milder forms of crowd control methods like
firing below the knees, or lathicharge, or teargas, which are
mandatory before firing is resorted to.
e. The police killing is justified as the CMAS which the crowd
represented had been carrying on a violent agitation for land grab
over the past few months. Which actually implies that the police can
take law into their own hands, and dispense their idea of justice in
regions, where people have been demanding their rights.

Is this the official response of a government, or just the outburst of
a brash young officer over eager to prove himself? I sincerely hope it
is the latter! Tribal development, tribal living conditions are at
their nadir in all districts of southern orissa. NREGS, primary
schools, mid-day meal programmes, anganwadi centres, you name it. To
brag that these are running properly in some of the Panchayats of
Narayanpatna only further underlines the poor stature of governance in
the tribal regions, and emphasises  that unless people carry out a
persistent agitation, and struggle all the time, they will not get
even their basic entitlements in this state. It is a response that
should put the government to shame.

There is simmering discontents in the tribal regions because of the
subtle undercurrent of violent repression that prevails. This is not
just in tribal Orissa, but in most parts of the country. A village
community cannot complain about a teacher or an anganwadi worker,
because they will have to face the music when they come to the
Panchayat or block headquarters. Every body knows that Lalit Mehta was
not the only unhappy victim of corruption under the NREGS. Much closer
home, in fact in Narayanpatna itself, little more than a year back, in
fact a few days before Lalit Mehta's murder  Narayan Hareka was
brutally murdered because he dared to question the irregularities in
the NREGS. In Mandibisi, the Gram Sabha passed unanimous resolutions
to close the liquor shop in the Panchayat. There was never a question
of violence. The administration never responded, instead, The Sarpanch
was several times threatened with arrest and false cases, if he
persisted in this 'foolish' demand.

Violence, maoists, the greatest threat to internal security - It is
the government in fact, which is the greatest threat to the security
of the tribal communities, it is the biggest terrorist for them. What
the fact finding report says of the 'combing operations': The police
went into people's homes and harrassed women and men, beat up people
has happened not only in Narayanpatna, it is but a repetetion of
events in Lalgarh, in Kashipur, in Jagatsinghpur, in Dantewada. The
variations in this pattern of terrorism practised by a state on its
people is only in the detail, and the degree or intensity, depending
perhaps on the interests that motivate state entry: Corporate designs,
land-lord lobby, liquor mafia, contractor gangs, etc.

So nauseatingly acqueisant are governments in giving in to these
lobbies, that these groups take it for granted that their interests at
the cost of the tribals, and other rural poor is their birth right.
Time and again when one raises issues of corruption in employment
works, one is confronted with the self-righteous question of the
contractors: why are you kicking us in the stomach, how will we
survive, if we are to pay wages to these labourers!? The matter
usually ends there, unless the daily wage earners, and the stupid
civil society activists taking their side are ready to face the
'music' of the contractors as did Lalit Mehta and Narayan Hareka. When
corporate interests are there, the violence is more subtle, but much
more terrifying, insiduous, incessant, a war of attrition begins, in
which elected governments are bought by corporate mafias to quell
their own people.

This is not a brief for naxalites, or for the past violent activities
of the CMAS. One cannot murder, kill or blow up public property, and
call it a war of liberation. Even a contractor or a liquor baron does
not deserve to be murdered: without trial, and on the whims of local
leaders, or armed rebels, whatever they call themselves. But, when
such a thing happens, the government cannot let loose a plundering
police force that just carries on and increases the past repressions
by the government. The government must understand that these
expressions of violence are a response of a normaly peaceful people to
the years and years of repression and inhuman exploitation they have
suffered, and it must act on this understanding. Its most senior and
sensitive officers should visit the regions, call for genuine
dialogue, and undertake sincere steps to right the wrongs. Civil
society groups must be involved, local politicians must be called on
to visit the spot, and make investigations, and give reports.

At the present the situation in Narayanpatna is highly polarised, with
all the vested interests ganging up against the tribal organisation.
The government and the police force have unthinkingly taken sides with
the vested interests, alienating the tribals further.  "if you abjure
violence, give up arms liberation struggle, then we are willing to
talk to you about your grievance, structure of local administration,
of development, about money, and about corruption." We are willing to
talk on any issue which Naxals think" says the Home Minister.

It is pertinent to ask here: Is the government ready to abjure
violence, are they ready to withdraw the excessive police from all the
tribal areas atleast in the 5th Schedule states, and excise strict and
stringent controls over its law keeping mechanisms? Are they ready to
bring to book policemen behind incidents like the one in Narayanpatna,
in Raigarh, in Maikanch, in Kalinganagar..........? Will they review
and revoke the thousands of cases against the ordinary people in the
tribal and rural regions? Will they stop recruiting and training youth
as Cobras (and scorpions as the fact finding report picturesquely
describes) to fight their own kind in the tribal regions?

A government needs to act with mature sensitivity to govern, not react
and shoot as if it was fighting an enemy. Only then can any headway be
made in the tribal regions or anywhere for that matter.

Vidhya

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Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: Narayanpatna

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Prafulla Samantara <swabhiman.samantara@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Subject: Narayanpatna
To: psamantara@rediffmail.com

Dear Friends,
the attachments are self explanatory. We are protesting today at 12
noon at lower PMG before handing over the memorandum to the governor
and the chairman, SHRC. Please help us in reaching out to the people.

Thanks and regards
Prafulla Samantara

--
Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: {KBK OTable} Re: 'you’re either with use or against us'

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pravin Patel <tribalwelfare@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Subject: {KBK OTable} Re: 'you're either with use or against us'
To: kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com

Dear Mr. Daniel and friends

The way the law keepers are behaving and speaking the dictatorial
language is strongly condemned.   This is exactly what the people
behind the Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh speaks.

If there is no room for those peace loving people who strongly deplore
the violence be it practised by the Maoist or even by the Police or
State supported actors be it Salwa Judum or of any other name. We are
the largest democracy of the world where such dictatorial words have
no place. The way things are wrongly presented to misguide innocent
people or even create confusion amongst the community, as is seen at
Narayanpatna incidents in which innocents are killed by labelling them
as Maoists.

The actions of the Koraput police administration to coerce poor people
to create panic amongst the innocent tribals exposes that the state
police is not with the tribals but are acting as the agents of the
powrful corporate houses whose eagle eyes have fallen on the lands of
those poor tribals and when they agitate to protect their land
ownership rights, theyt are taught lessons, the way it has been done
within and outside the premises of Narayanpatna Police Station.

Now, we also find some people doing press conference in the guise of
peace loving people who are criticising activists and agitators as the
persons disturbing peace. We need to expose such dummies whose sole
action seems to glorify state sponsored terrorism.

Yes, the identity and culture of the tribal community is at risk.
After robbing them of the natural wealth, now eyes are on their land
at the cost of intruding in to the fundamental constitutional rights
of those poor tribals.

Questions comes in my mind, who will police the police who is now in
the habit of p[laying with the rights of the poor tribals??????

With best wishes

Pravin Patel

On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 9:18 AM, Umi Daniel <umi.daniel@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Friends,
> In his famous speech Bush once said, "There is no room for neutrality in the war against terrorism; you're either with use or against us in the fight against terror". The Koraput police has taken a leaf from the Bush theory and implementing the same principle with the tribal in Narayanapatna. It is reported that the police administration is coercing the poor and terrified tribal to testify before the police about their loyalty and say  "either they are with them or against them".  Tribal men, women and young people thronging in large number to Narayanapatna police station to give their written commitment guarantying  tribal support, cooperation and loyalty for the cause of the police. In return, it seems, the police ensuring the villager full protection, treatment and freedom from arrest and harassment.
>
> Till recently the tribal broke their long culture of silence and have started asserting their voice through a collective process. The administration doesn't want the tribal to demand, argue and remain silence for ever as they were before. The coercion tactics is nothing but making the tribal submissive to the system prescribed by landlord, business mafia, police and administration.
>
> I am afraid; the same strategy may leads to reinforcement of Salwa Judum kind of oppressive strategy in Koraput district.
> Regards
> Daniel
> ===================
> Umi Daniel
> MiRC, Migration information & Resources Centre
> 3, Subhadra Enclave
> Jagamara, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar
> Tel: 0674 6570455
> Mob: 9937019196
>
> visit my blog: http://orissamigration.blogspot.com/
>
>

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--
Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: {KBK OTable} Re: Amnesty International Statement on Narayanpatna Police Firing

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: displaced people <displacedforum@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 6:31 AM
Subject: {KBK OTable} Re: Amnesty International Statement on
Narayanpatna Police Firing
To: kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com

Dear sathy,

I read many fact finding reports and the AHRC & Amnesty International
on the Police firing of Naratanpatna & killing of two tribal leaders .

It is very strange to me that many civil society members are silent on
the issue.  Except few ,others are just saying nothing on the issue.
There are reports of many meetings at Bhubaneswar  on different issues
after the 20th november killing but they are not raising the issue.
What dose it mean they are supporting the police or donot have any
interest on tribal issues. At least they should discuss on the topic &
put pressure on Govt to come out the truth.

The political parties, many  of the Oriya media, TV & News papers  are
not also raising the issue at public. When there is assembly is going
on there is no discussion on the issue.

If all will be silent who will protect the genuine interest of the
tribals. Even tribal leaders of different political parties are
silent.

All the civil society leaders should raise to the crisis of the
tribals and should demand the judiciary inquiry of the police firing
and peace initiative in the region.

The Police is just pushing the tribals to the Naxal fold and situation
will be out of control very soon. The police should understand this
issue. Instead of police taking side with poor tribals they are with
exploiters and killing the tribals. This approch will counter
productive and the violent group will take advantage of it.

If there will no democratic space for all the situation will be worse
in cumming years.

I hope the civil society will be pro active on the issues of tribals and poor.

Namaskar,

sagar.

Statement by Amnesty International on Narayanpatna Police Firing forwarded.
>
>
> Achyut Das
>
> --
> Achyut Das
> Director
> Agragamee
> Kashipur -765015
> Rayagada Orissa
> India
> Phone: 06865 285149/0674 2551123
> Fax: 0674 2551130
> e-mail: achyutdas@agragamee.org/agragamee@satyam.net.in
> Blog:http://friendsofkashipur.blogspot.com
> website:www.agragamee.org
>
>
>
>
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--
Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: {KBK OTable} Amnesty International Statement on Narayanpatna Police Firing

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ACHYUT DAS <achyutdas@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Subject: {KBK OTable} Amnesty International Statement on Narayanpatna
Police Firing
To: kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com

Statement by Amnesty International on Narayanpatna Police Firing forwarded.

Achyut Das

--
Achyut Das
Director
Agragamee
Kashipur -765015
Rayagada Orissa
India
Phone: 06865 285149/0674 2551123
Fax: 0674 2551130
e-mail: achyutdas@agragamee.org/agragamee@satyam.net.in
Blog:http://friendsofkashipur.blogspot.com
website:www.agragamee.org

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
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To post to this group, send email to kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com
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For more options, visit this group at
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--
Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: Fw: {KBK OTable} CMAS Firing detail report

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Umi Daniel <umi.daniel@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 8:43 AM
Subject: Fw: {KBK OTable} CMAS Firing detail report
To: kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com

Dear friends,

This is pertaining to the fact finding report posted by Sharanya and
we have received the response from subcollector of Koraput who has
expressed his own views. let us welcome such posting from people in
administrtion and continue our discussion.

please go through the mails below which is self explantaory.

Regards

Daniel

===================
Umi Daniel
MiRC, Migration information & Resources Centre
3, Subhadra Enclave
Jagamara, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar
Tel: 0674 6570455
Mob: 9937019196

visit my blog: http://orissamigration.blogspot.com/
=============
fromUmi Daniel <umi.daniel@gmail.com>
torajeshpatilias@gmail.com

cc1100kishore@gmail.com,
agragamee@sify.com,
deepak3818@rediffmail.com,
bidyut Mohanty <bidyut.mohanty@gmail.com>,
Sharanya Nayak <sharanya.nayak@gmail.com>

dateTue, Dec 1, 2009 at 9:18 PM
subjectRe: [OREGS Watch] Fw: {KBK OTable} CMAS Firing detail report
mailed-bygmail.com

Dec 1 (1 day ago)

Hello Rajesh,
Thank you very much for expressing your frank and open views which I
feel has the ingredient of both official and personal opinions.
Unfortunately, your posting couldn't be delivered to the kbkroundtable
members since you are not the member of the group. However the mail
reached to me which was addressed to Sharanya and copied  to others
along with bidyut and Agragamee.
Would it be OK if I post your mail to the KBK roundtable? Please
confirm so that the conversation reaches out to more members.
Rajesh, I appreciate your views in which you have responded to the
matter related fact finding posted by Sharanya. I have found very few
bureaucrats who go beyond their official line and interact with
people. Please keep this up until your seniors ask you to abstain from
such interaction.
I fully agree with you that the fact finding has certain limitation
which may be contested and argued from a diverse position and
perspective. And each passing day, there is always inquisitiveness
from every quarter to learn the truth.
In reply to your statement, the one I am referring is pertaining to
the issue of tribal snatching way the gun and firing 22 rounds.  Let
us examine this, the firearm used by IRB must be a sophisticated one
and probably a self loading assault rifle. During an open shootout
situation (the situation in the firing zone must be like a combat zone
in Narayanapatna) a tribal is snatching a rifle (may be AK47 or some
modern self feeding rifle) unlocks it, takes safe position and fires
indiscriminately. Where the bullets have gone?? Who was the target...
22 rounds fired, not a single bullet hit anyone??  Two rifle, 22
rounds of gunshots and then the person escapes unhurt and unnoticed by
the police? And now please don't tell me that the two people who were
killed were the one holding the gun and fired 22 (11rounds each)
rounds?? In India the police got a terrible history of planting such
stories and all such stories were proved futile. The genuineness of
the story from Narayanapatna will also be brought to the limelight
oneday.
Secondly where the injured have gone? In a war situation even the POWs
are entitled to the best of medical care, but the poor tribal who were
being shot were allowed to fend for themselves without any attention
to their medical need. You say a medical van is waiting in
Narayanapatna to treat the victims. Then why the people are not
reporting? What is preventing them to save their precious life?
I don't think the democracy was worst since last 5 months in
Naryanapatna because of the tribal demanding their basic rights. On
the contrary, people of these area, since ages have been
undemocratically ruled, miss-governed  by the administration and
exploited by our own society, and institutions. Moreover, the
administration which is considered to be more powerful, privileged and
authoritative has failed in responding to peoples fundamental issues
and went on implementing certain populist government schemes which too
has never yielded significant results.
I must congratulate you and your team in Narayanapatna for your
excellent effort in streamlining certain work related to NREGA,
provision of forest land and transfer of land back to tribal. However,
please compare the two and half month achievement indicators in
Narayanapatna with some of your other blocks like Dasmanthpur,
Semiliguda, Lamtaput and you will find out the variation.  Why the
same vigor and obligation is not demonstrated in similar tribal
blocks. The answer is simple; there is no any pressure either from
below or top on the administration the way you have been experiencing
in Naranyanapatna.
You are absolutely right, the effort from NGOs are not visible or
effective. However, like the BDO who is putting his best of effort in
Narayanapatna and considered the best in KBK, there are some good
civil society organizations doing meaningful work in their own field.
We simply can't ruleout the role of civil society in strengthening
development, human rights and democracy.
My former colleague and senior in ActionAid Mr. Harsh Mander used to
opine that, the administration often tend to get suspicious and
defensive at a juncture when the institutions to whom they represent
indulge in conflict with poor and marginalized people who seek
justice. There are people in the administration who in the past have
demonstrated high value and transparency in their work and stood firm
for the cause of people to whom they serve. I have enough faith in the
administration and people like you who can transform the situation.  I
am a great admirer of the present collector of Koraput who is
considered as people's collector because of his low key, down to earth
attitude, honest and knowledge about the local issues.  I am sure
under his leadership things will certainly change.
I will look forward to your response.
Regards
Daniel
-----------------------------------------------------
From: rajesh patil [mailto:rajeshpatilias@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:14 PM
To: Sharanya Nayak
Cc: 1100kishore@gmail.com; agragamee@sify.com; bidyut Mohanty;
umi.daniel@gmail.com; kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com;
deepak3818@rediffmail.com; soojata mishra
Subject: Re: [OREGS Watch] Fw: {KBK OTable} CMAS Firing detail report

Hello sharanya,
  First of all I will congratulate you and your team for your daring
visit to Narayanpatna and preparing a fact finding report "'Democracy'
at its worst !" .  The findings of the report are really shocking and
one can very easily get convinced that it must be situation like
Somalia or Sudan if he has no knowledge about the history of the
problem and the prevailing situation in Narayanpatna.
            You have very conveniently ignored all other dimensions of
the problem and generalized the report basing on the firing incident.
First of all your report is factually incorrect and one sided. It
generally happens if one looks at the issues with prejudice and has
other extraneous motives. Had you interacted with all the parties like
the agitators, police and the native of Narayanpatna who might have
witnessed the incident you could have been more objective and you
report could have been more meaningful. Whole narration about the
incident of firing is not exactly correct police used 82 rounds which
includes 24 rounds fired from the two weapons snatched whereas you
have mentioned 300 rounds without any cross checking, only IRB men
fired Cobra and CRPF were not in the picture, they were carrying bow,
arrow, Khanda, axe  but you mentions that they were not carrying any
arms. Collector Koraput reached the firing spot first who was
accompanied by Nihar Ranjan Pattnaik and not the way you have
mentioned.
            Madam, the Democracy was at its worst not from the firing
incidence but from last five months when CMAS forget where the line
between the agitation and violence ends. While demanding for their
rights they were taught to forget the same entitled to others on whom
they perpetrated the violence in most barbaric way. These five months
saw five murders one gang rape which is not even reported, total
destruction of 410 houses of SC, general and tribals who denied to
join CMAS, looting and eating of over 2000 cattle, goats. Last 15 days
saw looting of over 20 motorcycles, two commanders and one tractor.
Over four thousand people were bitten and driven away from their homes
in the name of exploiters and outsiders many of whom live at five
refugee camps in Koraput, two in Laxmipur. It will surprise you that
20% of these people are tribals. They are undergoing through severe
mental depression and trauma some of these people have became mentally
ill. Anyone can visit them and see whether they are exploiters and
having flats in Bhubaneswar or Vizak. No fact finding team could dare
to come forward to understand their plight. Many of these people may
be shivering in the 5 degree cold of Koraput when we all are sleeping
comfortably. Is the democracy has any meaning for these people? We
can't have best of both the worlds. We can't pick and choose when it
comes to the rights and duties in the democracy.
            Who is responsible for this all? We all so called
activist, rightist , leftist, NGO, civil society of course politicians
use the tribals. Use them in whatever situation they are. All the
communist guys who were guiding them all along are nowhere to be seen.
They have very conveniently escaped from the place leaving the tribals
in mess. We use them whatever way we like. Some people make career
writing about them in the manner in which it becomes readable and
attractive, some others work for them making career  and earning money
and accolades for it. In the name of helping tribals we do more harm
to them. We all move ahead but they are where they were some 40 years
back.
            You say you work in the Kumbhari Panchayat of Narayanpatna
but you have not mentioned that some of the tribals in that Panchayat
doesn't make brooms but deadly bombs.i shall not touch this subject
but there is need for looking at the issue in totality. Since you have
already branded the govt machinery  as "Government officials …????
Less said the better it is"  shows your ignorance  about the work
being done there. The BDO and Tahsildar of Narayanpatna are probably
the best in the KBK area. The PDS, AWC are all running smoothly all
the teachers who are posted  in that area are regular in their work.
Only in the last month when the situation was getting better the BDO
could spend over 20 lacks in NREGA which is probably highest for any
KBK block. Forest Right Pattas are ready for 1300 people in
Narayanpatna alone and their 2000 applications are under processing
stage. Lands have been reverted from non-tribals to tribals in over
100 cases within a span of two and half months. I will suggest you to
spare some time and talk to the RIs, BDO, Tahsildar ask why they are
working there and not in cuttack or Khorda district. The non govt
people who are suppose to be working for land issues of the tribals in
Koraput have no time to have any communication with the authorities
and supplement their efforts and the vocal legal fraternity has no
time to look into the cases whereby large scale stays are being
granted by HC to the reverted cases. Probably, I have digressed to
much, anyway we all are use to pay leap service to the tribals so I am
not exception!

            For the kind information the combing for arrest was done
for two days only to nab some leaders of CMAS against whom very
serious cases are pending, use of large force was warranted because
there was possibility of counter attack. The force is already
barracked since last two days and mobile van is stationed at
Narayanpatna to treat the injured. Let's not work in different
directions when the goal is same.

Rajesh Patil,IAS
Sub-Collector, Koraput
9437574892

--

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Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: Fw: {KBK OTable} CMAS Firing detail report

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: bimal pandia <bimalpandia@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: {KBK OTable} CMAS Firing detail report
To: kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com, rajeshpatilias@gmail.com,
1100kishore@gmail.com, agragamee@sify.com, umi.daniel@gmail.com,
deepak3818@rediffmail.com

Dear Mr Patil and Umi,

Good morning and regards !

It is really very heartening to get a healthy response/reaction from a
young IAS officer who is serving in a very disturbing administrative
zone and trying to break the impasse of mistrust and intolerance. This
type of conversation will hopefully continue in the future and set a
precedent for healthier community-CSO-administration interaction.

While both Mr. Patil and Umi are right on their versions of democratic
violation, considering their perceptions and obvious biases, it
deviates from the present debate pertaining to the police firing at
Narayanpatna. While Mr. Patil can criticize the fact finding report,
done by Sharanya and Co., for their 'prejudice and other extraneous
motives', was the administration acting without such addicts? In fact,
until the report by Sharanya and Co. most people staying far from this
epic centre, were made to believe that all culpability for forcing the
police to open fire on the mob entirely lay on the CMAS agitators.
This happened because the other reports, too, had their prejudices and
extraneous motives.

Coming to democracy – both of you give different reasons and periods
for why and when democracy came to its worst. Both reasoning seem
just. But if any incidence justifies the term 'democracy at its worst'
then will there be any doubt that the Narayanpatna firing incidence
was one such case? Here all circumstantial and direct evidences
question/raise suspicion on the police version of what led them to
open fire. Here majority of administrative reaction seemed Hitlarian
in nature. If the other side can be accused of shedding civility, did
the administration (police) acted any differently?

Having said all this, the administration must be hailed for making
belated efforts in bringing back normalcy. If officers start hearing
dissenting opinions, then the administration will be more successful
in making inroads towards peace and justice. I thus congratulate Mr.
Patil for participating in this debate which I hope will be taken
further to planning and action. What Achyut bhai, Umi, Sharanya and
others are doing is commendable because they are attempting to make
the administration believe that their version is not totally correct
and thus rectify their mistakes.

I hope this healthy debate will improve delivery of administration in
the KBK region. Let the KBK get best of officers, CSO/NGO activists,
Journalists and concerned citizens to bring it out of the infamies and
rising civil war type of situations.

Thank you.

With regards

Bimal Prasad Pandia

9438488563

============================

On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 8:43 AM, Umi Daniel <umi.daniel@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear friends,
>
> This is pertaining to the fact finding report posted by Sharanya and we have received the response from subcollector of Koraput who has expressed his own views. let us welcome such posting from people in administrtion and continue our discussion.
>
> please go through the mails below which is self explantaory.
>
> Regards
>
> Daniel
>
> ===================
> Umi Daniel
> MiRC, Migration information & Resources Centre
> 3, Subhadra Enclave
> Jagamara, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar
> Tel: 0674 6570455
> Mob: 9937019196
>
> visit my blog: http://orissamigration.blogspot.com/
> =============
> fromUmi Daniel <umi.daniel@gmail.com>
> torajeshpatilias@gmail.com
>
> cc1100kishore@gmail.com,
> agragamee@sify.com,
> deepak3818@rediffmail.com,
> bidyut Mohanty <bidyut.mohanty@gmail.com>,
> Sharanya Nayak <sharanya.nayak@gmail.com>
>
> dateTue, Dec 1, 2009 at 9:18 PM
> subjectRe: [OREGS Watch] Fw: {KBK OTable} CMAS Firing detail report
> mailed-bygmail.com
>
> Dec 1 (1 day ago)
>
> Hello Rajesh,
> Thank you very much for expressing your frank and open views which I feel has the ingredient of both official and personal opinions. Unfortunately, your posting couldn't be delivered to the kbkroundtable members since you are not the member of the group. However the mail reached to me which was addressed to Sharanya and copied  to others along with bidyut and Agragamee.
> Would it be OK if I post your mail to the KBK roundtable? Please confirm so that the conversation reaches out to more members.
> Rajesh, I appreciate your views in which you have responded to the matter related fact finding posted by Sharanya. I have found very few bureaucrats who go beyond their official line and interact with people. Please keep this up until your seniors ask you to abstain from such interaction.
> I fully agree with you that the fact finding has certain limitation which may be contested and argued from a diverse position and perspective. And each passing day, there is always inquisitiveness from every quarter to learn the truth.
> In reply to your statement, the one I am referring is pertaining to the issue of tribal snatching way the gun and firing 22 rounds.  Let us examine this, the firearm used by IRB must be a sophisticated one and probably a self loading assault rifle. During an open shootout situation (the situation in the firing zone must be like a combat zone in Narayanapatna) a tribal is snatching a rifle (may be AK47 or some modern self feeding rifle) unlocks it, takes safe position and fires indiscriminately. Where the bullets have gone?? Who was the target... 22 rounds fired, not a single bullet hit anyone??  Two rifle, 22 rounds of gunshots and then the person escapes unhurt and unnoticed by the police? And now please don't tell me that the two people who were killed were the one holding the gun and fired 22 (11rounds each) rounds?? In India the police got a terrible history of planting such stories and all such stories were proved futile. The genuineness of the story from Narayanapatna will also be brought to the limelight oneday.
> Secondly where the injured have gone? In a war situation even the POWs are entitled to the best of medical care, but the poor tribal who were being shot were allowed to fend for themselves without any attention to their medical need. You say a medical van is waiting in Narayanapatna to treat the victims. Then why the people are not reporting? What is preventing them to save their precious life?
> I don't think the democracy was worst since last 5 months in Naryanapatna because of the tribal demanding their basic rights. On the contrary, people of these area, since ages have been undemocratically ruled, miss-governed  by the administration and exploited by our own society, and institutions. Moreover, the administration which is considered to be more powerful, privileged and authoritative has failed in responding to peoples fundamental issues and went on implementing certain populist government schemes which too has never yielded significant results.
> I must congratulate you and your team in Narayanapatna for your excellent effort in streamlining certain work related to NREGA, provision of forest land and transfer of land back to tribal. However, please compare the two and half month achievement indicators in Narayanapatna with some of your other blocks like Dasmanthpur, Semiliguda, Lamtaput and you will find out the variation.  Why the same vigor and obligation is not demonstrated in similar tribal blocks. The answer is simple; there is no any pressure either from below or top on the administration the way you have been experiencing in Naranyanapatna.
> You are absolutely right, the effort from NGOs are not visible or effective. However, like the BDO who is putting his best of effort in Narayanapatna and considered the best in KBK, there are some good civil society organizations doing meaningful work in their own field. We simply can't ruleout the role of civil society in strengthening development, human rights and democracy.
> My former colleague and senior in ActionAid Mr. Harsh Mander used to opine that, the administration often tend to get suspicious and defensive at a juncture when the institutions to whom they represent indulge in conflict with poor and marginalized people who seek justice. There are people in the administration who in the past have demonstrated high value and transparency in their work and stood firm for the cause of people to whom they serve. I have enough faith in the administration and people like you who can transform the situation.  I am a great admirer of the present collector of Koraput who is considered as people's collector because of his low key, down to earth attitude, honest and knowledge about the local issues.  I am sure under his leadership things will certainly change.
> I will look forward to your response.
> Regards
> Daniel
> -----------------------------------------------------
> From: rajesh patil [mailto:rajeshpatilias@gmail.com]
> Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 11:14 PM
> To: Sharanya Nayak
> Cc: 1100kishore@gmail.com; agragamee@sify.com; bidyut Mohanty; umi.daniel@gmail.com; kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com; deepak3818@rediffmail.com; soojata mishra
> Subject: Re: [OREGS Watch] Fw: {KBK OTable} CMAS Firing detail report
>
>
> Hello sharanya,
>   First of all I will congratulate you and your team for your daring visit to Narayanpatna and preparing a fact finding report "'Democracy' at its worst !" .  The findings of the report are really shocking and one can very easily get convinced that it must be situation like Somalia or Sudan if he has no knowledge about the history of the problem and the prevailing situation in Narayanpatna.
>             You have very conveniently ignored all other dimensions of the problem and generalized the report basing on the firing incident. First of all your report is factually incorrect and one sided. It generally happens if one looks at the issues with prejudice and has other extraneous motives. Had you interacted with all the parties like the agitators, police and the native of Narayanpatna who might have witnessed the incident you could have been more objective and you report could have been more meaningful. Whole narration about the incident of firing is not exactly correct police used 82 rounds which includes 24 rounds fired from the two weapons snatched whereas you have mentioned 300 rounds without any cross checking, only IRB men fired Cobra and CRPF were not in the picture, they were carrying bow, arrow, Khanda, axe  but you mentions that they were not carrying any arms. Collector Koraput reached the firing spot first who was accompanied by Nihar Ranjan Pattnaik and not the way you have mentioned.
>             Madam, the Democracy was at its worst not from the firing incidence but from last five months when CMAS forget where the line between the agitation and violence ends. While demanding for their rights they were taught to forget the same entitled to others on whom they perpetrated the violence in most barbaric way. These five months saw five murders one gang rape which is not even reported, total destruction of 410 houses of SC, general and tribals who denied to join CMAS, looting and eating of over 2000 cattle, goats. Last 15 days saw looting of over 20 motorcycles, two commanders and one tractor. Over four thousand people were bitten and driven away from their homes in the name of exploiters and outsiders many of whom live at five refugee camps in Koraput, two in Laxmipur. It will surprise you that 20% of these people are tribals. They are undergoing through severe mental depression and trauma some of these people have became mentally ill. Anyone can visit them and see whether they are exploiters and having flats in Bhubaneswar or Vizak. No fact finding team could dare to come forward to understand their plight. Many of these people may be shivering in the 5 degree cold of Koraput when we all are sleeping comfortably. Is the democracy has any meaning for these people? We can't have best of both the worlds. We can't pick and choose when it comes to the rights and duties in the democracy.
>             Who is responsible for this all? We all so called activist, rightist , leftist, NGO, civil society of course politicians use the tribals. Use them in whatever situation they are. All the communist guys who were guiding them all along are nowhere to be seen. They have very conveniently escaped from the place leaving the tribals in mess. We use them whatever way we like. Some people make career writing about them in the manner in which it becomes readable and attractive, some others work for them making career  and earning money and accolades for it. In the name of helping tribals we do more harm to them. We all move ahead but they are where they were some 40 years back.
>             You say you work in the Kumbhari Panchayat of Narayanpatna but you have not mentioned that some of the tribals in that Panchayat doesn't make brooms but deadly bombs.i shall not touch this subject but there is need for looking at the issue in totality. Since you have already branded the govt machinery  as "Government officials …???? Less said the better it is"  shows your ignorance  about the work being done there. The BDO and Tahsildar of Narayanpatna are probably the best in the KBK area. The PDS, AWC are all running smoothly all the teachers who are posted  in that area are regular in their work. Only in the last month when the situation was getting better the BDO could spend over 20 lacks in NREGA which is probably highest for any KBK block. Forest Right Pattas are ready for 1300 people in Narayanpatna alone and their 2000 applications are under processing stage. Lands have been reverted from non-tribals to tribals in over 100 cases within a span of two and half months. I will suggest you to spare some time and talk to the RIs, BDO, Tahsildar ask why they are working there and not in cuttack or Khorda district. The non govt people who are suppose to be working for land issues of the tribals in Koraput have no time to have any communication with the authorities and supplement their efforts and the vocal legal fraternity has no time to look into the cases whereby large scale stays are being granted by HC to the reverted cases. Probably, I have digressed to much, anyway we all are use to pay leap service to the tribals so I am not exception!
>
>             For the kind information the combing for arrest was done for two days only to nab some leaders of CMAS against whom very serious cases are pending, use of large force was warranted because there was possibility of counter attack. The force is already barracked since last two days and mobile van is stationed at Narayanpatna to treat the injured. Let's not work in different directions when the goal is same.
>
> Rajesh Patil,IAS
> Sub-Collector, Koraput
> 9437574892
>
> --
>
>

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "KBK O TABLE, citizen's collective for a better and different
KBK" group.
To post to this group, send email to kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
kbkroundtable+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.co.in/group/kbkroundtable?hl=en-GB
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

--
Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: {KBK OTable} 'you’re either with use or against us'

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Umi Daniel <umi.daniel@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 9:18 AM
Subject: {KBK OTable} 'you're either with use or against us'
To: kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com

Dear Friends,
In his famous speech Bush once said, "There is no room for neutrality
in the war against terrorism; you're either with use or against us in
the fight against terror". The Koraput police has taken a leaf from
the Bush theory and implementing the same principle with the tribal in
Narayanapatna. It is reported that the police administration is
coercing the poor and terrified tribal to testify before the police
about their loyalty and say  "either they are with them or against
them".  Tribal men, women and young people thronging in large number
to Narayanapatna police station to give their written commitment
guarantying  tribal support, cooperation and loyalty for the cause of
the police. In return, it seems, the police ensuring the villager full
protection, treatment and freedom from arrest and harassment.

Till recently the tribal broke their long culture of silence and have
started asserting their voice through a collective process. The
administration doesn't want the tribal to demand, argue and remain
silence for ever as they were before. The coercion tactics is nothing
but making the tribal submissive to the system prescribed by landlord,
business mafia, police and administration.

I am afraid; the same strategy may leads to reinforcement of Salwa
Judum kind of oppressive strategy in Koraput district.
Regards
Daniel
===================
Umi Daniel
MiRC, Migration information & Resources Centre
3, Subhadra Enclave
Jagamara, Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar
Tel: 0674 6570455
Mob: 9937019196

visit my blog: http://orissamigration.blogspot.com/

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "KBK O TABLE, citizen's collective for a better and different
KBK" group.
To post to this group, send email to kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
kbkroundtable+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
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-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

--
Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com

Fwd: CMAS Firing detail report

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sharanya Nayak <sharanya.nayak@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 23, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Subject: CMAS Firing detail report
To: kbkroundtable@googlegroups.com, common-concern@googlegroups.com,
bidyut Mohanty <bidyut.mohanty@gmail.com>, santakar chelapila
<santakar@gmail.com>, Nilay ch <chatterjee.nilay@gmail.com>,
callmanoranjan@gmail.com, ksp_pat@yahoo.com, Umi Daniel
<umi.daniel@gmail.com>, ACHYUT DAS <achyutdas@gmail.com>, Rajkishor
Mishra <rajkishormishra@gmail.com>, Jitendra Rath
<jitkumar2@gmail.com>, janatavikas manch <janatavikasmanch@gmail.com>,
Rumi <janabadi@rediffmail.com>

Dear All,

As a follow up of Sudhakar Sir's report please find attached a
detailed report of our preliminary fact finding visit. Manoranjan,
Sudhakar Sir and me had gone for two days to Narayanpatna. I hope you
will forgive us if there are mistakes in the report.

With warm regards,

Sharanya
Koraput

--
Ch.Santakar
Pujariput
Koraput-764020
Orissa
Mob:09437192553
e-mail:santakar@gmail.com
web:www.koraputonline.com